The European Statistics Code of Practice was adopted by the Statistical Programme Committee (SPC) of the European Union in February 2005, and its adoption was advised to Member States by the European Commission.

The Code of Practice is a self-regulatory instrument whose main purpose is to improve trust and confidence in official statistics produced and disseminated by the statistical authorities of Member States, Candidate Countries, EFTA Members and Eurostat, reinforcing their independence, integrity and responsibility and to enhance the quality of European Statistics.

The Code of Practice comprises the Quality Declaration of the European Statistical System and 16 Principles covering three main groups: Institutional Environment, Statistical Processes and Statistical Output. A set of 84 indicators of best practices and standards for each of the Principles provides the European references for the statistical activity. This 2017 edition is the second revision of the Code of Practice, which aims at reflecting the latest changes and innovations in the development, production and dissemination of official statistics in the European Statistical System and beyond, such as emerging new data sources, use of new technologies, modernisation of the legal framework, and the results of the peer reviews on the implementation of the Code of Practice. The adoption of one more Principle in the context of coordination and cooperation (Principle 1-A) reinforces the area of the institutional environment.

An independent Advisory Board, the European Statistical Governance Advisory Board (ESGAB) provides an overview of the European Statistical System as regards the implementation of the Code of Practice. The Board analyses the implementation of the Code of Practice by the European Union Statistical Authority (Eurostat) and the European Statistical System as a whole every year; and advises on appropriate measures to facilitate the implementation of the Code of Practice, on its communication to users and data providers as well as on its possible updates.

The Code of Practice was adopted by Statistics Portugal and it is reflected in its values. Statistics Portugal is committed to promote its adoption and implementation by the other national entities intervening in the production of National Statistics, and also amongst respondents and users (policy-makers, public in general as well as researchers, media and students).

The Principles of the Code of Practice together with the Quality Declaration provide the quality framework of the European Statistical System, a crucial instrument to ensure trust and credibility in European statistics.